Keegan

Opinion: Guessing game — Nobody knows where prep phenom Andrew Wiggins will spend his one year in college

McDonald's East All-American's Andrew Wiggins looks up during the first half of the McDonald's All-American boys basketball game in Chicago, Wednesday, April 3, 2013.

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Associated Press

McDonald's East All-American's Andrew Wiggins looks up during the first half of the McDonald's All-American boys basketball game in Chicago, Wednesday, April 3, 2013.

A voice of reason rises above the discordant sounds of self-annointed expertise regarding the recruitment of an 18-year-old basketball player. And that wise voice belongs to the teenager himself.

“Anyone who says they know where I’m going is a liar,” Andrew Wiggins famously said. “I don’t know where I’m going, so they can’t know where I’m going.”

Bingo!

But that won’t stop many who state pure guesses with absolute certainty. He’s down to four choices, so four self-anointed experts each could make a different guess, and after Wiggins picks a school, the guy who’s right will be the only one who returns the call of the radio producer looking for a guest to discuss the decision. Nobody will remember the other three guys’ guesses, and the one who’s right will brag about it until he guesses wrong on a future coveted recruit.

If the insider guessing Florida State happens to guess right, he will explain that he knew all along Wiggins was heading to Tallahassee because the family connections to the school made it impossible for him to choose anyplace else. His father, Mitchell Wiggins, was drafted in the first round out of Florida State and played six NBA seasons. His mother, Marita Payne-Wiggins, ran for a pair of Canadian relay teams that won silver medals in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Should the expert guessing Kentucky while pretending to know guesses correctly, he’ll cite Wiggins’ desire to be part of the greatest recruiting class of all time as the factor that swayed him.

North Carolina? What better place to be the next Michael Jordan, playing for a coach who was an assistant at Carolina when Jordan played three seasons there.

Why would Wiggins select Kansas? Why not?

If he’s the sort of competitor who feeds off a big challenge, maybe he’ll like the idea of being one of two McDonald’s All-Americans from the Class of 2013 winning a national title sought by a Kentucky team with six hamburger All-Stars.

Wiggins hung out with KU signee Wayne Selden during the McDonald’s All-Star Game week and just might like the idea of running the opposite wing from him on the fast lane to the Final Four in Cowboys Stadium.

With Naadir Tharpe, combo guard Conner Frankamp and pure point Frank Mason sharing point-guard duties, Selden and Wiggins manning the wings, polished Perry Ellis and shot-blocker Joel Embiid down low, and forwards Jamari Traylor, Brannen Greene and Andrew White III adding depth, this team could wage some serious battles in practice, where daily improvement would be required of the players just to keep up.

Why I disagree with you... Chalmers, Robinson, Rush, Wright, and Kaun (3 Freshman and 2 Sophomores) in the starting lineup led Kansas to the Big 12 Title... Losing to Bradley sucked but that was a team of relative unknowns that did big things. I'm done putting anything by Self.

Why I agree with you... Wiggens is a rare talent who seams to be a lot closer to Beasley or Durant than Josh Selby... Carmelo Anthony did huge things with a solid supporting case. Tharpe, Seldon, Wiggens, Ellis, and Embiid would make for a heck of a lineup. An experienced PG, 3 McDonald's All-American's who can score, and a 7-Foot defensive presence... Frankamp, Greene, White III, Traylor, and Lucas all battling for bench minutes sounds pretty good as well. I don't like one-and-dones unless they are difference makers. I'll take Wiggens for a year.

Cairo, Your post is right on time, but know this: Frank Mason is one heck of a PG. Most people know nothing about him, but he has moved from being rated around # 145-175, to about #75. And he is probably better than that. As coach Self said, he reminds him a lot of S. Collins. I would agree with that, except he is a much harder worker, and is in better shape now, than Collins was even in. I will also take Wiggins for a year, but it definitely is not Wiggins or bust. We will challenge for the National Championship, with, or without him, but he would make us so much better!

Poor reporting by Bleacher Report. Kentucky had already exhausted its home visits with him, this is why it was not scheduled this week. Cancelling the visits in no way indicates that he is going to Kentucky.
All this indicates that by know he knows all he need to know about the 4 school and additional visits will not help; any additional information h can get via phone call.

More and more kids declare every year. Just like when it was okay to jump high school, to many kids are making the jump. If you can go through that list and tell me the one and done system is working be my guest. These kids need to prove themselves on the college level. All the NBA has to do is be smart, but it won't happen. NBA will be horrible in 5 years, along with college ball at this rate.

why do people say stuff like this? have you actually seen him play or watched any of his interviews? I've seen plenty of both (highlights and watched him live) and for someone as talented as him he is pretty quiet and laid back. i get the feeling he just wants to play ball, not promote himself. just watch any game where he plays with Randle and you can see who has the bigger ego.

Yes, Cal may be too smart to get caught this time. However, consider the fact that the NCAA can't really afford to let a group of incoming all-everything Freshmen "decide" which team gets to win the National Championship, I believe that the NCAA will decide to investigate Kentucky. I'm not sure they need to find anything, they proabably can gin something up. It's kind of a "round up the usual suspects" situation.

True. It also doesn't force them to go to college. They just can't play in the NBA for that year. Didn't one kid (Jennings?) make news for playing pro in Europe for that year rather than going to college?

I truly don't believe a rule similar to baseball would work in the current culture of HS basketball and everybody can thank ESPN for that one. Prior to LeBron, you would maybe see 2 or 3 HS games a year on ESPN which would be the McDonald's game and maybe a couple of other all star games, but now you can see at least one HS basketball game a week at least on ESPN. I honestly believe if you allow HS kids to go straight to the NBA now, we'll see at least 15 a year on average declare because so many of these kids are being told how great they are from an early age by people that don't have the kid's best interest in mind instead of being told that they need to go college to develop their game more. I personally think there needs to be a blanket rule of at least 2 years, preferably 3 years, for everyone because that's how long it takes 99.9% of players to be NBA ready that have an NBA future, but it'll never happen because we now live in a culture that makes rules that cater to the exception to the rule rather than the overwhelming majority.

He says even he doesn't know where he's going but the only comments from him about a specific school all seem to relate to Bandwagon U. I'll be shocked if he's not another bandwagon jumper. I hope I'm wrong.

Maybe the hold up is so that certain school, from a state known for its blue grass can, replenish its bank account to fund his "scholarship"? I'm sure those untraceable transactions take a lot of time to set up.

That's the main reason why I'm not sold on Wiggins. Some kid already on the UK team is going to find out his scholy has been pulled to hand to Wiggins if Wiggins says he's going there (and just for a year). Meanwhile, it's getting late for that kid to change to a different school, plus I expect he'd have to sit out a year (which is another nasty thing to do to a player who you just yanked the scholy from). If you redshirt a player, does his scholarship become available again?

KU has the free scholarship to give to Wiggins without jerking around an existing player, so imho, he should come here and not Kentucky. Then again, I don't know the situations at FSU and UNC - I'd hope they also wouldn't eject a scholarship player just to get Wiggins for a single year.

a player does not lose his scholarship while redshirting. I have a question though, does anyone know if all the other commits have signed their LOI's? If not is it possible one of them- namely James Young- might de-commit?

I agree with JayHawkFanToo, but coloradojayhak your comment reflects a lack of info. With 8 scholarship players coming in and 3 returning players that leaves 2 scholarships. Even if Harrow hadn't have transferred a scholarship would've been available. Everyone at UK new Harrow would transfer after this season. So, no scholarship from another player for Wiggins.

As far as I know, red shirt players still use a scholarship, they just don't use a year of their eligibility. So even if Cal redshirted one of his players who wasn't going to end up playing anyway, he'd still be using the same number of scholarships.

I've decided (and many will disagree) that we don't need the one and dones every year. If Coach Self wants to develop a team that will win a national championship, he needs a player for more than one year. I liked McLemore so don't get me wrong. I just think that he didn't add as much to the team as he could have if he'd stayed around to develop his talent. (I don't blame him for leaving either.) Players that Self developed (Kevin Young and Nadir Tharpe) did more for the team. I just think the whole system has gone haywire, but I know that is the way it is going to be.

No, because no team will ever go undefeated in men's D1 college basketball again because there is too much parity now and teams don't stay together long enough to do so. The 2006-07 Florida Gators are the only team in past 20 years that had a legitimate chance to do so because they returned every relevant player from a national title team the year before, but they took games off during the regular season to try and stay as fresh and healthy as possible for the NCAA title run which was successful for them.

Regardless of where Wiggins goes, KU is going to be one heck of a team next year. How many times do I have to tell everyone, Bill Self will take whatever you give him and blend it into a great team. If Calicrappi didn't have at least between four and six Mickie D's coming every year to Kensucky, they would be terrible. Great talent is able to overcome his mediocre coaching.

As much as I don't like the guy, I think the criticism of his coaching is ridiculous. Lest anyone forget, he took a UMass team that didn't have a huge amount of talent (at least compared to UK) to the Final Four.

My guess: Wiggins' parents want him to go to Florida State but he wants to go to Kentucky. He's kept KU and UNC in the mix because they're his favorite alternatives.

That said, KU and UNC still have a chance. Can either one of their "closers" compel Wiggins that their school is the best option. Come Friday, Bill Self may be drinking the coffee. Because we all know, "Coffee is for closers!"

Wiggins is obviously a stud but after seeing him play in person a couple of times and on TV a number of times I just don't see him at the same level as Lebron, Melo, D Rose or Durant at the same age. I am not an NBA scout so I am probably way off but I don't understand why he is being hyped as the 2nd coming. Maybe I'm just wearing blinders as I just assume he won't be in a KU uniform.

Yeah, I thought Shabazz Muhammad was the 2nd coming, but apparently it's Wiggins.

The only reason I want to see this kid in Crimson and Blue is so that Self can put it on his resume - to aide in his recruiting in future years. KU has never gotten a "clean" OAD: Xavier was a default after Calipari left Memphis and Selby was academically ineligible.

While I'd like to see him at KU (Selden made some nifty passes to him during the McD game), part of me wants to see him at UK. It would be bad for college basketball, especially if UK wins it all going away, and maybe put an end to this one and done joke. If he goes to UK and they do the same next year as they did this year, then the Calipari magic will end. I still say the Big 12 made a big mistake not taking Louisville. I can see a future college basketball world composed of the Big 10 and ACC playing an NIT type tournament with their 3-4 year "college" players, while the UK and Florida look for competition with us.

The only problem is, no matter how bad that would be for college basketball, it won't have any impact on the OAD rule. That is an NBA rule that is in the collective bargaining agreement between the player's union and the league. My recollection is that the players do not want the OAD to change because it benefits them. Until the NBA and the player's union decide to change the rule, the NCAA has very little choice but to accept it.

Really? I think it's just part of the NCAA/NBA charade to keep up appearances. The NCAA could penalize schools with loss of scholarships for taking too many OADs, but the member schools wouldn't really want that would they?

I'm excited for the 2014-2015 season. Next year obviously could be nice, but give all of these studs who likely aren't OAD's a 2nd or 3rd season in AFH and you could be looking at a team rivaling our 1986, 1997, 2003, and 2008 powerhouses.

Some rich guys need to get together and create a league to stop this age discrimination used by the NBA. Someone in KC needs to talk to the European leagues and ask to have a KC team join them. Another ABA is needed. Would love to see a football league started too, but this would be cost prohibited. Meanwhile, these pro leagues will continue to use college althletics as their farm systems.

Actually, the opposite is true- I think you can make it a valid requirement (just like you do for MANY other jobs) you be 21 to be in the league - not sure why the NBA wants to baby-sit and spend time teaching teamwork and fundamentals-

Go to college, go to JUCO, go to the D-league - its not like you don't have places to play -

hell, the NBA should require 1st year d-leaguers to go to classes about money management/sports management, etc.

I have a guess. Actually it's not a guess. Wiggins decided he wants to be paid while he waits a year for the NBA.

How much more [expletive] transparent can they possibly get? Kid has been telling anyone who would listen that he has no idea where he wants to go, and even schedules meetings with all four finalist coaches, suggesting that he really isn't sure. Then he meets with Calipari and all of a sudden he's so sure that he doesn't even need to MEET with the other three coaches?!?

If the NCAA doesn't feel the need to at least look into Kentucky's 2013 recruiting class, then they might as well just disband. They clearly aren't doing the job they supposedly exist to do. People should look at a single team that already has highly-touted recruits getting ALL FIVE #1 players at their positions plus 2 additional AAs with a great deal of suspicion. Either Cal is compensating these kids somehow (maybe draft guarantees since he's buds with the not-quite-an-agent "Worldwide" Wes), or this is about the stupidest collection of college athletes I've seen in a long time. Willing to believe any BS Calipari feeds them about playing time and that noise.

Crap like this makes me sour on the sport of college basketball as a whole. And I don't mean crap like Wiggins not coming to Kansas. I would have been fine with him going to ANY of the schools but Kentucky. Because his going to any of the other schools wouldn't have been a surefire suggestion that there is something fishy going on at Kentucky.

Or maybe Wiggins is more like Lebron than any of us realized. Afraid to be "the man", so he runs and hides behind a roster full of highly-touted recruits so that he can blend in. What a loser.

I am not sure how credible he is as a source, but Rob Fulford tweeted something that was RT by Jayhawkslant saying Wiggins will still be speaking to the coaches by phone. Apparently, he is still stuck in Portland. I am sure he is still going to UK, but if this is true at least he's still giving the other coaches a shot.

Goodman is a moron for breaking this story under the circumstances. I apprecaite this second piece because I guarantee you it was damage control for Goodman's stupid story. Goodman is a uk homer like Parrish. This piece is true because Wiggins said, he was "tired" and will go home to take it easy, watch tv, and relax. I don't blame him.

Chill out all until the kid makes a decision. We'll be fine with or without him. Karma is a beeotch and Cal's judgement is coming. It reminds of Shawkshank Redemption. He will jump to the NBA when his nasty story breaks and how he corrupted and got away with virtual murder of programs, but don't think he can hack it in the NBA either. It's funny because all his players can't possibly play and get the pt they all want. His program will implode.

I don't think KU needs his swelled head and arrogance. Let him go where his disruptive one year stint won't be of conern. Rather have a kid who has talent and wants to learn from good coaches than someone who thinks he knows it all now. Just my opinion of course.

Do you know this kid? I don't, but from everything I have seen and watched, he is very humble and likes to avoid the spot light. I still think it is open so if he choses KU I would like to revisit this post. Just plain dumb.

No need to call yourself dumb, you can have a differing opinion, it's ok with most people. I just don't like the one and done idea and the disruption it brings to a younger team like KU that lost a group of senior starters.

It's not the kid or the player. It's the stupid vulcher media types like Parrish, Goodman and others who keep trying to break his story. They need to wait and let the kid make a decision before breaking it.

I believe the young man is still figuring it out. Give him credit for being in that enviable position of having the pick of the litter. A lone OAD is probably more hassle than he is worth. KU is still in an excellent position for having recruited players that can be formed into a winning team by the KU coaching staff. Nonetheless, he seems like a nice kid that despite being a OAD may fit well into the KU system.

I am sorry, but I cannot believe these posts giving Wiggins the benefit of doubt. All of the top 2013 recruits have made up their minds, but #1 cannot handle the choices. Come on.
It's time for KU to rescind their offer. If he came to KU, I think he would be disruptive to the team and if things did not work out for him as he expects, then he'd probably leave or sulk or pout or claim that he's tired. Hope HCBS just moves on to other prospects.

Probably would be the best if he goes somewhere else than KU, as the evidence with one and done players that Self has had shows he doesn't do a good job with them. Selby, McLemore, both spent a lot of time on the bench in many games and KU doesn't make it very far in the NCAA tourny. High power players in the Self program is a failure.

I don't remember McLemore on the bench much except about halfway through the 2nd half in the Michigan game he was in foul trouble. And otherwise, just in the game in Ames & Stillwater really, when his shot happened to be off.

I hope KU never gets a one and done player again. I would much rather have those that want to stay to get an education and mesh together as a team to earn league titles and more. Most flash in the pan players are broke in ten years and no education.

I'm kind of glad that Louisville won the NC in the same year that Cal's team cratered in the NIT. That has to really sting! I still can't believe the way Cal threw his players under the bus after their season ended. No culpability on his part.....just clean house and bring in the top ten or so players and maybe he has a chance to be more successful than his upstate rival.(:

If Kentucky, then Wiggins is The Man Who Knew Too Much, as he heard the Squid's Pillow Talk and A Touch of Mink. Move Over, Darling Young and Co. HCBS says, "Lover Come Back," and KU fans, "Send Me No Flowers." Ah well, With Six You Get McDonalds Egg McMuffin Roll.

If Kansas, then A Winning Team, and The Thrill Of It All! It's A Great Feeling! Lucky Me!

Wiggins played for the World Team at the Nike Hoop Summit this past weekend, and IS STILL STUCK IN PORTLAND after his flight home was canceled.

“He's just drained,” Fulford said. “He is shutting it down.”

Wiggins, a 6-foot-7 Canada native who attends Huntington Prep (W.Va.), is the No. 1 player in the class of 2013. He had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists to lead the World Select team to a victory over Team USA on Saturday.

Because scholarships are only a 1 year deal that gets renewed each year, the consensus is that Cal will make room for his new batch of OADs by pulling scholarships from players currently on the roster. These players would either have to pay their own way for a season, or transfer out and sit for a year. Either way, Cal comes out with a team of new studs and his lesser role players fade further into the shadows or leave completely. Until the rule changes in the NBA the draft entry age is altered (at least another 8 years until the next negotiations), we will be stuck with these sorts of antics.

Harrow is gone. Wiltjer is looking to the Zags. You might see one more transfer. It's all their choice too. Calipari is doing nothing to encourage this activity. He's thinking of the best interest of the kids. Wiltjer will never see the floor or even make the traveling squad with this group. Cauley-Stein may not see too many mins. He reminds me of a not so good Patterson. Cauley-Stein should transfer, bail, get out and away from the mess. Calipari does nothing for bigs. Goodwin won't play much either. He may never play at all most games.

If Kentucky is involved my money is on Kentucky. Would it surprise anyone when he makes his announcement that he would choose Kentucky. Not me. I will be surprised if does not choose Kentucky. Anyone Coach Cal. wants he gets. Amazing recruiter. Very frustrating as a KU fan. Seems like we have gone head to head with him several times and have come out empty handed. His luck has to end sometime. Hopefully its soon with Wiggins.

I could give a flying you know what about Wiggins. Randle was our "need" guy, and the logic of coming to KU was overwhelming for Randle. He went to Kentucky. Why would we, as KU fans, waste our time on Wiggins?

Please go to Kentucky; or FSU; or UNC. Either way, just go. We do not need presumed OADs, and we don't need to recruit them. They don't fit with coach Self's approach to the game (whether we like it or not). And the aggravation of the presumed OADs isn't worth it.

Give me guys that have to work hard in college to make it in the NBA; guys whose NBA draft status is not assumed, but earned by performance and improvement. That's what KU basketball is about.

My bet is that Self could gain more top 50ish guys by not recruiting the OADs. Would Jermaine Lawrence have been more keen on KU if he knew that Randle wasn't a possibility to block his first year opportunity? Who knows.

I get that every so often a presumed OAD may unexpectedly hang around (Rush); but at what cost? Henry did fine, but was never enough of an "impact" as a presumed OAD; Selby got suspended by the NCAA, got hurt, got behind, and was not a positive deal; We waste our energy talking about these top tier guys who "fit" better elsewhere. Presumed OADs bring expectations that are way too high. We expect Carmelo Anthony. And Wiggins will necessarily stunt the growth of a likely 3-4 year player in our program (Greene and/or White).

I say to Wiggins --- go somewhere else. I don't need your drama. We'll win another way. And it's better for our program, given coach Self's preferences, to get the top 50 guys, just outside of the presumed OAD territory.

All this speculative crap is wasted keystrokes on a guy we shouldn't want in the first place.

I still refuse to judge his personality over a situation without precedent (for him), and where the outcome is still unknown. Only his family, close friends, coaches and teammates know if he is being deliberately dramatic and egotistical. I'm neutral on his character until I see more of him over the next year or two.

Whether or not his actions are deliberate and egotistical is a different question than whether or not his actions are dramatic.

Cancelling planned visits with the head coaches of three major universities, whether done for attention or done because he really is tired, is drama. Whether or not it's because he believes himself and his whims to be more important than the busy schedules of Self, Hamilton and Williams or he just isn't considering what it looks like, it's drama.

I guess what I'm saying is that he may very well be a nice, humble young man. But his actions have bred drama without a doubt. I have a hard time believing that he couldn't have handled himself in a way that squelched drama, rather than fostered it.

Blown- This is a good observation. I'm worried about the kid's work ethic. He is a great athlete and is entitled by default. How dare he have to work and earn his pt? Self's bootcamp may seem like a waste of time for him. Cal will have him on the sidelines during practice with a personal masseuse' and other lavish benefits. Jay Z will come in and perform personally for each player. We all know what other celeb fan bases do for the team. They'll get free motivational NBA speeches from LaBron. WWW will come in each week with their "allowances."

Yeah Bay, I'm sure he's skimming the boards to make a decision. That wouldn't say a whole lot for his decision making skills if he is using any board to make a decision. According to most, including you, he's already crossed off KU.

He's a straight "A" student. I believe his mom is a teacher and his dad is in business. Also, his coach said he took some advanced classes and had no problem with them at all. His work ethic is unbelieveable, on and off the court.

Don't blame the kid for being tired, and wanting a little R&R, however, I wish he would have considered that the coaches are tired too, and have pre-paid for travel, and scheduled in-advance to meet with him. They find out it's a no-go 1-3 days before?

I know he will be an NBA Pro soon, but this sure doesn't feel like he is "being" professional. If I am off, my apologies.

Interesting decision by Wiggins and family. Appears to be a flag that he sees himself as bigger than any one program currently in pursuit of his talent. On the other hand, maybe he is coming down with mono or is actually worn out from recent training, games, and constant presence of microphones. Although he played lots of minutes in the Nike Hoops Summit game, his effort did not soar above that of 5 or 6 other players in that game. Shooting was off; he seemed to defer to teammates...which, at the time, I saw as a plus. At this juncture, I plan to stick the name Andrew Wiggins way back in the bottom corner of my memory bank.
If he shows up in Lawrence this summer, fine and well. If he drags his recruitment out til August, I'd be for showing him the door, going with the kids who have bonded throughout the summer months. In retrospect, Rio's missing the summer months in Lawrence might have come back to bite him in the butt, even tho his absence was eligibility related rather than news drama.

HEM is right.. Plus we don't need a 3. We needed Randle or some one like Rico Gathers. Also another PG would be nice.. It's like this each year though, who is going step up? I think Perry will shine but he could play the 3. Lucas might be the next surprise.. He is a below the rim guy but he can rebound and he can shoot from 12 ft in.. Kind of reminds me 08/09. We had Sherron and after that Cole was a ?.I don't think the coaches would agree because they had seen Cole's improvement, but I didn't know that at the beginning of the season.

With the inside-man need I'm a bit surprised that I don't / didn't hear us linked to that Tulane 5th-year transfer Josh Davis. Avearge 17 & 11 last year?!?!?! Really....we couldn't use that this next season?!?!?!??!!

Last I'd heard about 1 1/2 weeks ago is that he had a Final Four of Gonzaga, Iowa State, Illinois & Pittsburgh. Maybe he was told that he wouldn't be able to play the "4" and would have to be a "garbage man" undersized "5" to get the bulk of minutes he was likely looking for. Maybe could've slide Perry over to the "3" to bring him in?

I think if Wiggins came here Self would play him at both the 3 and 4. He seems to fit the KU mold of undersized tweener forward: 6'7"-6'8" and highly athletic. He would be an amazing college PF next to a true center.

First I have to say that I'm a life-long KU basketball fan. My first visit to Allen was to see Wilt vs Nebraska when I was 8 yrs. old. I am however a Basketball fan more than a Jayhawk fan. I've recently moved to Lawrence, but am a WSU alum. ( realizing it's unbelievable that in my major, WSU was the better choice) Since my move I've been struck by the myopia of the local fans. It's like the Colo. border was just west of Manhattan. And I must say at this point that I'm not a shocker with a chip on my shoulder. I don't think KU-WSU should play during the regular season and yes I realized the WSU program will never compare with KU (who can?) But WSU is the now the "Rodney Dangerfield" of the state (no respect ... how was coach Marshall Not national coach of the year?) So here's a reminder from west of Manhattan: Wiggan's brother a Shocker, tweeted during the final four that his little brother was gonna "shock" the world when he announced. And although Marshall may not want a OAD, the opportunity to play his one year with his brother seems to me a stronger family connection than FSU. I would love it if he commits to WSU (who's never mentioned here or elsewhere), just to make fools of all the national media .... just sayin' .... RCJH !!

jazzbeau, welcome to Lawrence. I'd love to see Andrew Wiggins end up in Wichita... that would be an absolutely phenomenal twist! Actually, I can't think of a decision that would make me respect the kid more, but it's probably not going to happen. (I don't think he'll pick KU either.)

These kids really like to build the hype because ultimately it builds their cache and their brand. His "advisers" build this stupid drama and he goes along for the ride. I think we learned this from the Randle saga, where it was obvious after the fact that he used the other schools when he had chosen uk along time ago.

Agree with you High Elite--when we lost Randle to Kentucky, I could not really care about any other late adds. Wiggins is clearly the best 3, perhaps, in years--but White and Greene are not chopped liver, and I can more than live with a position that already has a promising future with these two on board.

The other day I was going through a couple boxes encompassing my somewhat sordid years on the Hill, and I couldn't even find the addresses for my last two years in Lawrence. I had a job in KC during those two years and was always on the go. I mean, any dump would do as my future was somewhat already written, so I was just using these "dumps" for Lawrence cred, sort of. Five memorable years and two degrees later, and I now realize that I had the attitude of a OAD. And, of course, that didn't exist in 72 and 73...

It could have been the dust, but I just couldn't get the stench out of my having used people, apartments and even a university to reach my goal. The thought of athletes renting a university for a year doesn't make me feel any better, either.

now that the "Wiggins, Come on down!" crowd has officially turned into the "Wiggins is a clown" crowd, you can bet the farm that he's not gonna end up on Bill Self's team.

Yeah, the recruiting saga gets a little unbearable, even for us fans who don't even have any skin in the game, but I read a lot of posts on here that prove to me how many fans are not above name-calling and trash-talking a kid who still is (at least by every account available to us) considering attending our school of choice.

Have been trying to say the same thing, plastic. I wonder if any of these so-called KU fans are trolling wildcat fans (either purple or blue) who are hoping to misrepresent our fan base. If not, I'm frankly embarrassed by the attitude of some of our alums.

PlasticJHawk, I completely agree with you. I've talked to a number of players, and coaches, on our team and, unfortunately, they DO read the message boards. Think about it, how many of us go back and re-read our own post just to see who may have responded to it? These "kids" aren't any different, only instead of just a few post, they have an entire article and several post dedicated to them. It's similar to a bad car wreck, you just can't help yourself, it's human nature to see what's being written about you. Like everyone else, I'd love to see Wiggins join our team, he is definitely a phenomenal player, but we'll all have to just keep our fingers crossed.

Just looking at this kid tells me that he will end up playing his one year and out at Kentucky. He like the rest that has only one thing on their minds and that is the almighty dollar and no education to back them up later on in life. KU does not need a another crybaby/drama type player like Josh Shelby was. Let the kid go the Kentucky, Calipari will make sure the kid has a tutor to do all his work for him in and out of classes and maybe he will know how to sign his name and be able balance his check book after he is drafted.

I think everyone's just in a sour mood with Julius Randle TRULY MAKING A MISTAKE in going with UK....NOT a good fit.

So, OF COURSE, means if Wiggins drags it out and shows inklings for UK or even has UK on his list AT ALL we're SURE he's going to them.

I'm one of those that would gladly take him, BUT if we don't get him.....at least go to FSU or UNC.....NOT UK!!!!

IF he does go to UK, the NCAA would need to IMMEDIATELY investigate this last recruiting class and the relationships Calipari has with the like of "Worldwide" Wes, etc. The disparity in the housing for the men's basketball players.....ALL OF THE PERKS that UK has that aren't present at other schools and for now have been allowed.

KU has a great class coming in. Would've been even better landing either Wiggins or Randle and moved us to a top 5 team to start the year with the addition of one of them. Something tells me that we will have another strong year as always in 2013-2014 and have a national caliber powerhouse team in 2015....Rock Chalk

I'm just glad these All Star games are over. It gets Wiggins away from all the KY players. It also stops all the KY players from having cohesion sooner than they should. If it seems to good to be true, it always is...Kentucky one and done's, Lance Armstrong, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Arod, Ben Johnson, Marion Jones just to name a few. INVESTIGATE CALIPARI.